TUCSON — One of the charms of spring training is the intimacy. While the Rockies travel to Glendale to play the Dodgers, I am in Tucson on injury detail. I sat in the right field stands three feet way watching Huston Street throw a bullpen session. (I got mud from his cleats on my sweatshirt, that’s how close I was). Street worked on his posture, staying tall in his delivery. Street believes that he will be ready for the season, saying he needs only around 7-10 innings. Pitching coach Bob Apodaca had set a goal of 15 innings each for Street and Rafael Betancourt, which they aren’t going to reach.

“I am hopeful. But they can’t be kind of ready. They have to be ready,” pitching coach Bob Apodaca.”We have to have a plan B and a plan C just in case.”

Street repeated that he felt great as he threw his bullpen session, despite dealing with mud on the mound. Watching him today, I can see him being ready barring any setbacks. He threw 15 pitches, and was pleased with the sink on his fastball and the movement on his changeup. His shoulder has no inflammation. The other thing is that he typically worked only 10 innings in spring before he joined the Rockies. So a light work load is nothing new in March.

Betancourt played catch today. When he was done, he smiled. That has been a rare sighting the last few weeks as he has dealt with shoulder tightness. The clock is working against him because he’s behind Street. Street, based on today, is in position to be ready. Again, it’s early. But what I just watched was very encouraging.

Footnotes
Reliever Matt Belilse (forearm stiffness) played catch. He compared his injury to shin splints in the forearm. He gets it every year, he said. That’s the bad news. The good news is that once it goes away it usally doesn’t return. … Right fielder Brad Hawpe will run today and expects to play tomorrow. Turns out Hawpe was on a similar program to Todd Helton and Jason Giambi. Yes, he had an ingrown toenail. But he’s easing into spring like those two to be ready for the season. More rest makes more sense for him. … Jason Giambi shaved his mustache. He was tired of the gray. … Pitcher Greg Reynolds’ right elbow is feeling better. But he hasn’t thrown since he was struck by a line drive during BP. He suffered a bone chip from the impact of the ball.

I hope Hawpe gets off to a good start and we can move him for something of value. I think he is very limited, has little upside and without the BP factor is not much better then average. If you consider that a LH reliever can shut him down easy at the end of a game he has even less value.

I hope Hawpe gets off to a good start and we can move him for something of value. I think he is very limited, has little upside and without the BP factor is not much better then average. If you consider that a LH reliever can shut him down easy at the end of a game he has even less value.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.